Image via Tim in Sydney on flickr.

When you go lawnmower shopping it can seem that there’s no end of different features, materials and other options. Let’s take a look at some of the different options available and what they all mean!

Mulching

This is where there are an extra set of blades in your machine which cut the grass into tiny pieces. These are designed to be left on your lawn and can cut down on the need to fertilize and also on the waste cuttings to get rid of.

Mulching is highly recommended and is extremely advantageous to your lawn. Grass clipping contain nitrogen, which your lawn needs. By allowing the clippings to decompose on the lawn the nitrogen is returned to the growing grass.

Bagging

This gives you the option to attach a bag to your lawnmower and the grass clippings are automatically deposited in it. This means all you need to do is lift out the bag for disposal.

Side Discharge

This is exactly as it sounds, and the grass clippings literally shoot out of the side of the mower onto the lawn. They typically won’t be cut up as finely as mulching, but can still be left on the lawn to decompose for the same effect.

Steel Decks

Steel is one of the most common materials for lawnmower decks to be constructed from due to its strength and durability. However, steel is heavy and can rust if not cared for.

Cast Aluminum Decks

The advantages of an aluminum deck are that it is more resistant to rusting and is lighter than aluminum. More expensive mowers usually have aluminum decks.

Plastic Decks

Lightweight and durable, plastic decks are only found on electric mowers. It’s not possible to use them in the construction of gas mowers due to the heat involved when the gas motor is running.

Xenoy Decks

This is a feature of Honda mowers and is a product used in the production of automobiles. Honda now uses Xenoy in the construction of some of their mower decks. Xenoy is rust resistant and Honda gives a 5 year guaranteed for these decks.

Pull Starts versus Electric Start

With gas mowers, most are started by pulling a cord. However, the more expensive mowers may have an electric, push button start. Whilst pulling a cord is the cheaper option, some smaller ladies, or people lacking in strength may find these a bit hard going.

Self-Propelled

This is an option on mowers which means it moves along by itself when you pull a lever. Self-propelled are generally a little more expensive than mowers which you have to push along yourself. However, a self-propelled does not give you such a good workout when mowing the lawn!

Some self-propelled mowers have an option whereby you can set the speed at which it moves. This is the ideal because you can then go as fast or as slow as you want.

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One of the most important parts of a riding lawn mower is the mower deck. The mower deck serves many purposes on the riding lawn mower. All of these purposes are vital to the efficiency of the mower, to the safety of the machine operator, and to the property around the yard being mowed.

The lawn mower deck acts as a base for the mower to rest upon. The chassis is built mainly upon the mower deck and is connected to the deck and axels. Without the lawn mower deck, the riding mower may be a completely different machine. The pulley system that rests in the chassis underside the mower runs the engine as well as turns the blades and belts. Some lawn mowers have optional grease fittings. These are mainly found on the zero turn riding mowers. The main pulley is generally the part of the system that is fitted with these, and they are used to keep the belt lubricated and free from debris.

The deck of the lawn mower acts as a cover for the blade. In this housing, air flow is controlled. Air is forced upwards by the spinning blades. The upward moving air pulls the grass straight up, making for a cleaner, more even cut. The housing also helps protect the blades from rain, sleet, snow and hail. These weather conditions may damage a blade.

It acts as a safe guard to keep larger items from getting caught in the blade housing. Large clumps of grass or dirt may block the blade completely to hinder the cutting path. Large clumps in the housing may also damage the velocity of the air flow, which can stop the grass from being pulled completely up. Keeping large, hard objects such as rocks and wood out from under the mower can protect the blade from being damaged, chipped, bent or even broken.

It helps keep projectiles down to a minimum. By keeping large objects from getting underneath the mower and away from the blades, it can not only protect the blades, it can also keep objects from being forcefully ejected from beneath the mower. By reducing the risk of projectiles, the mower deck also prevents a majority of personal injuries as well as damage to personal property. This can save a lot of time, money and energy. Time can be saved by keeping people out of the hospital and can minimize the time needed to repair any damages. Money can be saved the same way. Energy can be saved by reducing the amount of repairs that need to be made during the mowing season.

The lawn mower deck houses some of the most important parts of the machine, not only for the cutting of grass, but also for the efficiency of the machine itself as a whole.

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When people think of riding lawn mowers, there are a few names that come to mind almost immediately. Here is a list of some of the most popular brands of mowers and sites to find them.

Craftsman

Craftsman has been known and trusted for its durability and dependability for over eighty years. Craftsman has a variety of blade sizes and is available in both push and riding styles. Craftsman is a company well known for the reliability of their guarantees, and takes care to protect the brand name that is so recognized. Craftsman mowers require few repairs over their lifetime, and come in a variety of styles and sizes. Craftsman mowers can be purchased online at www.Sears.com/Lawn-and-Garden.

John Deere

When people think John Deere they normally think of large farm equipment tractors. This great brand recognition extends to mowers as well, however. John Deere has been in business for well over a hundred years, and Deere was known for the first cast-steel mower in 1837. Deere owners agree that “Nothing runs like a Deere”. John Deere lawn tractors can be purchased online at www.deere.com.

Troy-Bilt

Troy-Bilt is another well known brand of lawn care products, including lawn mowers. Troy-Bilt claims that their mowers are “built for life”. They claim to require little maintenance, few repairs and an extended life period. Troy-Bilt mowers can be purchased online at www.Lowers.com.

Black and Decker

Known and trusted for years, Black and Decker is another great lawn mower product, but is generally better for smaller yards, as their main mowers at this time are corded or electric. Black and Decker mowers can be purchased online at www.Store.BlackandDecker.com/Mowers

Snapper

Snapper is another great brand of lawn mowers. With their wide variety of mowers, it should be possible for anyone to find a mower to fit their needs. Snapper is affordable to purchase, easy to use, and a snap to maintain. Snapper mowers can be purchased online at www.Snapper.com.

There are a lot of different brands of lawn mowers available in this day and age. These are just a few of the most commonly known, most commonly purchased and most commonly used mowers available.

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As with any machine, it is always the best bet to turn off any and all power to the machine, and then break the circuit. Powering the machine down before setting to work inspecting, repairing or replacing parts can save a limb or possibly even a life. Accidents can and do happen when they are least expected. That is why it is best to always refer to the user’s manual if the machine came with one. If it did not come with a user’s manual, contact the manufacturer to request one.

Disconnect the spark plug. This may require turning the lawn mower on its side, depending on the type and model of the mower. This breaks the circuit and reduces the risk of an accident.

Use a wrench if needed to loosen and remove any bolts holding the blade, washers, and the belt cover if there is one. In order to keep from losing the bolts and washers, temporarily replace them once the blade and belt cover have been removed.

Visually inspect the pulley system and the belt layout. You will need to remember how the belt is looped for later.

Using a flat head screwdriver, gently maneuver the belt off the pulley system. Many belts may be recycled. Check with your auto parts store for more information or to find a recycling center.

Gently use a soft rag to clean the area where the belt operates. This will minimize catching, wear and tear. This can prolong the life of a new belt.

Place the new belt along the pulley system. Make sure the first looping pattern is placed on the engine pulley. Once the belt is in place, gently pull with one hand to ensure the fit is not too loose. Also visually check to make sure the belt is looped on the pulley system correctly. Various models may have different pulley systems and belt looping patterns.

If there was a belt cover, put it back in place using the bolts and washers. Next, put the blade back in place. Use a wrench to tighten all the bolts without placing too much torque.

Before turning the lawn mower back over, take this time to check the sharpness of the blades, as well as clean the blade housing area to remove clumps of grass or dirt that may hinder cutting performance.

Turn the lawn mower back over once all the parts are back in place and bolted down tightly. Reconnect the spark plug, and turn the mower on to check the belt. If any catching or slipping occurs, it may be necessary to double check the placement of the belt on the pulley system. If this still doesn’t solve the problem, double check to ensure that the correct type and size belt has been used.

Correct belt placement and usage is important to the power of the mower, as it allows for power to be transmitted between shafts that are not connected to the same axel. Without proper belt positioning and usage, the mower engine may catch or slip, or not even run at all. Belts are also used to turn the multiple blades that are commonly found on riding lawn mowers.

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Buying a second hand lawn mower can be a great way of getting value for your money. However, buying any second hand garden machinery should be approached with as much caution as you would a second hand car.

In many cases, and with a little thought, it can be the perfect way of getting a lot of bang for your buck. But as always when buying used products, it should be a case of ‘buyer beware.’

There are plenty of places in which you can find second hand lawnmowers for sale. These include, but are not restricted to, the following:

• A friend or colleague. This is probably one of the best options. Hopefully a friend will not be looking to palm you off with a knowingly faulty machine.
• Local newspaper adverts. Very often people will offer their unwanted lawnmowers for sale in the classified ads. This has the advantage that they will be in your local area and you won’t have far to travel.
• The internet. Various auction sites such as eBay and similar will have a whole bunch of second hand lawnmowers for sale. Make sure you ask lots of questions before you click to bid or buy. You can always make payment via a provider such as PayPal to ensure that you are covered in case you get the lawnmower home and find it doesn’t work!
• Car boot sales and garage sales. People often use these to get rid of old or unwanted garden equipment. The only downfall here is that you have no comeback, so pay accordingly. In the case of a gasoline mower then you should be able to see it working before you buy, but in the case of an electric mower, it’s unlikely that you’ll have this option.
• Junk yards. It might sound crazy but you just might find what you need here. And it’ll be cheap, that’s for sure. Just don’t expect to visit a junk yard and pick up a $1000 mower for $10. Be realistic with your purchase expectations and you might just get the deal of a lifetime.

Very often, you can get a far better deal by purchasing used lawnmowers than if you were to buy new. Say, for instance, you’ve got $500 to spend. Well, you might be able to get a far higher spec and well known make for your money than if you were to buy an unknown make new.

Finally, as with buying any electrical appliance second hand, you should always get it professionally checked out before you use it. It might cost a few bucks, but in the case of electricity then you should always err on the side of caution.

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When selecting the correct lawnmower for your particular lawn it can seem a pretty daunting task.

Not only do you have to decide which type of mower you want, but then you have to work out the size of cutting deck! Why is that one smaller but more expensive? Can you get away with a 16” cut, or should you go the whole hog and plump for a 22” or larger.

Don’t worry. All these cutting widths signify is how much lawn is cut with one mow. So a 16” deck will cut a strip 16 inches in width in one go. So this is why a larger lawn needs a wider cutting deck, so you don’t have to trudge up and down the yard over and over again to get the job finished.

On average, a small lawn is considered to be around half the size of a full sized tennis court. A medium is half to one full sized tennis court and a large is over a tennis court in area.

Hover Mowers

These are generally available with cutting decks from 12” – 19” so are suitable for small to medium sized lawns. Remember that a hover mower is not self-propelled and have to be moved about by your own power.

Cylinder Mowers

In the case of electric or push mowers, these can usually be found in cutting widths from around 10” to 12” in width upwards. These are suitable for small to medium sized lawns. Petrol versions can be found from around 16” up to around 24”, so are perfect for medium or large areas of mowing.

Rotary Mowers

These can be found in a huge range of cutting widths, from 12” up to around 29”. This means that they are suitable for all but the largest of lawns which may well require an extra wide cut or a riding mower

Extra Wide Mowers

Before we move onto riding mowers, you should be aware that you can get walk behind mowers with a cutting width up to 48”. Of course, these are only necessary for the largest of lawns and often only used by commercial users.

Riding Mowers

These are the best option if you have an extra-large area of lawn to cut. Riding mowers can be found with cutting widths from 30” right up to 60”. If you have a wide expanse of lawn to cut, then a riding mower can make the difference between a job you enjoy or a job you dread!

Whatever size lawn there is the perfect sized mower for you. There is no point in buying a huge mower for a tiny lawn or vice versa. With the right sized mower, your lawn cutting duties can be a pleasure, not a chore.

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Many people take great pride in their lawns. They seed it to make it grow more lush, thick and green. They fertilize it to make it grow. They water it to keep it from browning and dying. They spend a lot of money making their grass grow. And then they cut it.

Nature Lovers

Americans love nature. Or so they say. They like the peace and tranquility. They enjoy the aesthetic beauty of nature. They wish their lawns to be a part of nature. Yet, however, they tame the wildflowers with weed killers and harmful chemicals that are dangerous not only to the vegetation, but also to many animals. They cut down tall, majestic trees and replace them with dainty flowering shrubs and climbing vines. They take away the gentle slopes of hills and valleys and grade their land to make it perfectly flat and smooth. They grow their grass with extreme care, take great pride in their yard and lawn, and then they cut the grass.

Green Energy Activists

As the world moves away from its dependency on carbon-based fuels, it seems ironic that one of the main resources used to grow the grass that people cut is being overlooked as a resource to help cut it. Although there are beginning to be some technological advances in using solar energy to power lawn mowers, it is still a relatively new idea, and can still be expensive and, for those who choose to remodel their lawn mower to utilize solar power, it can be a daunting technological task. So it is ironic that people who drive electric cars or hybrids must still go to the gas station to buy petroleum based fuel for their lawn mower.

Fertilize This

To me, the biggest irony of all involving the lawn mower is this. Many people fertilize their lawns with chemicals and other products. One of these other products is found in their own backyard: in the compost pile, in particular. Or it can be found just laying all over the yard. After people cut their grass, they can empty the bagger off the back of the lawn mower onto their compost pile, leaving it to decay along with other waste scraps to create do-it-yourself fertilizer. OR they simply leave the grass clippings on the yard so that the nutrients in the cut grass will seep back into the soil as it decays.

With all these thoughts on the irony of the lawn mower, it remains a mystery of how so many people do not see what they are doing, and saying. You say you like a beautiful yard, yet you cut down all the flowers and lush grass that is so soft to walk on. You say you like your yard to feel like nature, and yet you mow everything natural down. You say it’s too expensive to maintain a yard, yet you spend money on all sorts of chemicals, seeds and tools to cultivate it, only to spend more money on lawn mowers, lawn mower maintenance or lawn mower repairs.

The lawn mower is truly on of the most ironic inventions man has created.

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Most people use their lawn mower only for the purpose it was invented for. There are, however, more things to do with a lawn mower than just cut the grass. Here are a few ideas.

During the winter, many areas receive heavy snow falls. Some of these areas are flat and even, and are not hilly enough to sled on. Many kids enjoy sledding, however. Adults can easily attach a sled to the back of a lawn mower, giving the kids the ride of the winter. The great thing about using riding lawn mowers for this is that not only does it not require much effort; it is also a great way to control the speed and direction of the sled, making sledding accidents less likely.

Another winter use of a riding lawn mower is to simply attach a thick piece of cardboard or any other material that is not quite flexible to the front of the lawn mower and simply use it to push snow piles to the ground and even them out. This is great for small yards that a regular sized snow plow will not fit in. It is also great for residential areas that are not plowed regularly during the winter.

A homeowner in New Zealand couldn’t find a pair of hedge trimmers. So, he got a crane and lifted his lawn mower up in the air and proceeded to use the lawn mower blades to trim his hedges. This is not recommended, however, because even though the stunt worked, it did result in a minor injury. It has not been stated whether the broken hand was a direct or indirect injury associated with the lawn mower hedge trimmer, but it remains that this is a difficult practice to maintain, and should not be used.

Many parents know that some children just will not take a nap unless there is an amount of noise and movement involved. Some parents swear by the car, others swear by the washing machine, and there are even a number of parents and grandparents whose children enjoy getting carried away by a lawn mower. Many authorities on children say that a continual focus of white noise helps children drown out other, more distracting noises. This may be why so many children can be mowed to sleep, or at least out of a temper tantrum.

Farm life often involves chasing down animals. The horse jumped the fence, the cow broke the fence, the chicken flew the coop or any other variation is quite a common occurrence on the farm. For those farm owners who do not have four wheelers but whose animals routinely find narrow paths to follow, the lawn mower makes chasing these animals easier because of the speed a lawn mower can go if the blades are not in action. If the person can get in front of the animal, the noise can also help scare the creature back to its home on the farm.

There are so many uses of the lawn mower that it was not invented for. These can range from sane to silly, and many are applied every day.

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Looking after your lawn can end up eating into a considerable amount of your leisure time. Some people enjoy mowing and treating the lawn but if you’re not one of them then the weekly (or even more regularly in growing season) job of cutting the grass can become just another household chore.

There is an answer to this, which is to hire a lawnmower or garden contractor to carry out the work for you. Of course, this can end up costing a fair bit depending on the size of your yard, but in some cases it can work out to your advantage. For instance, if you have a fairly well paid job then you might consider that you can earn more money in the time you would spend in the garden than you have to pay out for a contractor to carry out the work.

Lawn Care or Lawn Maintenance

Once you have taken the decision to employ a contractor you’ll need to decide whether you want lawn care or more in-depth maintenance. The difference between the two is that lawn care is just mowing and edging the lawn and can be performed by pretty much anyone with the right tools. Lawn maintenance is more detailed and will include various services like weed control, fertilizing, seeding and aeration. If you are looking for a company to provide lawn maintenance then do your homework as prices can vary greatly. It is always preferable to get a word of mouth recommendation if at all possible.

Get to know your Contractor

Invite your prospective contractor around so they can see your property and give you a price. Treat this as a job interview, as in effect you are interviewing them for their qualities to complete a good job. In the case of a large firm, ask if the person coming to see you will be the same person who will be carrying out the work and if it will be the same person each time. It’s up to you to decide whether to go with a small or large concern; there are no hard and fast rules about who provides a better service. However, because the person will be coming into your private property some people prefer to use a service where they can get to know the contractor. That way a relationship of trust can be built up.

Lawnmower contractors are not ideal for everyone, especially if gardening is your passion. But in the case of those who are money rich and time poor, then hiring someone to keep your lawn in the best condition can be a great solution all round. Just take care as you would when selecting any tradesman to do work on your property and you will no doubt find the perfect person to carry out the work.

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The push reel lawn mower is a great economical and ecological choice when it comes to how to cut the grass. They do not burn carbon-based fuels. They do not produce harmful emissions. This helps both the wallet and the environment.

The wheels the mower moves on are connected to gears that turn the blades. As the mower is pushed, the gears turn and the blades snip the grass. There is also a gear that raises or lowers the blade deck. With the blades set just a little higher, the grass leaf is not completely removed. If the grass is cut completely down, it must grow faster to produce full leaves that will enhance the grass’ ability to photosynthesize. If the grass is cut just a little higher, the leaves must not grow so fast. This may mean having to cut the grass a little less often.

Since the mower is pushed by hand, and the blades are turned by the wheels being moved by the pusher, the lawn mower does not require petroleum-based gasoline in order to maneuver. The cost of the gasoline used over an entire summer could save enough money for a large shopping spree, home repairs or just a small vacation time expense. The fact that the mower does not use gasoline also helps save the environment. If a push reel lawn mower is used every time grass is cut, the amount of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere could be significantly reduced.

One of the most common complaints about push reel lawn mowers is that they are too hard to steer. Recent technological advances, however, make it easier than ever to move a push reel lawn mower. They have been modified to make it easy to operate a push reel lawn mower on uneven surfaces, even on hills. They have been made to be easier to turn, as well. This increases the overall maneuverability, which in turn lends to the crisp, clean patterns that most people yearn for when mowing their lawns.

Since most push reel lawn mowers are not fuel-burning machines, using these can lead to another safety feature. The push reel lawn mower is not a loud machine. This protects the operator from accrued hearing loss, headaches or even physical illness. This can save a lot of money since the operator will not need to buy pain medication or go to the doctor as often from the illnesses and headaches.

Push reel lawn mower sales declined with the invention of the riding lawn mower; but now, as the environmental concerns became a household issue, many people are buying push reel mowers again and are finding themselves surprisingly happy with the financial and environmental savings that they are finding. The push reel lawn mower has been making an extreme comeback recently in light of the fuel crisis, the environmental crisis and as people has found that they can reduce the headaches involved with mowing the yard every weekend.

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